Substance Abuse: Nigeria Customs intercepts 58,750 sachets of tramadol, other contraband en route for bandits’ den

*The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, discloses its operatives have intercepted and seized contraband including 58,750 sachets of tramadol and 48,000 ampules of analgin injection being conveyed to bandits at Saminaka Forest, in the Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Acting in intelligence, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, says its operatives have intercepted and seized contraband goods worth over N3 billion within the North-West and North-Central zones of the country.

ConsumerConnect reports some of the seized goods include 58,750 sachets of tramadol and 48,000 ampules of analgin injection being conveyed to bandits at Saminaka Forest in the Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Bello Shuaibu, Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, told reporters that the Customs operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a truck conveying 750 sacks of donkey bones and meat with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N3 billion.

Expatiating in the seizures, Shuaibu explained the sachets of tramadol were concealed inside the truck with motor spare parts so as to evade the Customs operatives’ attention in the Saminaka/Kafanchan axis.

The Comptroller listed other intercepted items to include 12 vehicles (means of conveyance) 174 bags of foreign rice (50 kg each), 234 jerry cans of PMS (25 litres each), 109 bales of second-hand clothing, 367 cartons of Spaghetti, 50 cartons of Macaroni, and 47 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil.

According to him, the Federal Government was concerned that donkeys were rare animal beings driven into extinction by unscrupulous elements.

The NCS, he stated, wouldn’t fold its arms and allow the illegal trade to thrive in Nigeria.

The Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, also emphasised that the illicit drugs were meant for bloodthirsty terrorists in the Saminaka Forest in the state before his men intercepted them.

Shuaibu further stated: “On April 25, 2024, operatives of the Unit acting on credible intelligence intercepted One (1) truck with Registration Number GGE 526 XL along Sokoto/Gusau Road in Zamfara State conveying illicit goods which were brought to Kaduna for further examination.

“Upon careful examination, the truck was discovered to be conveying 750 sacks of donkey bones. The DPV for the donkey bones was estimated at Two Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty-Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N2, 363,500,000.00) only.

“It would interest you to know that One (1) suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.”

He equally noted: “Again on May 5, 2024 at about 0310hrs, the operatives of the Unit intercepted Two (2) Canter Trucks carrying Dried Donkey Meat along Kontagora – Tegina Road in Niger State.

“After 100% physical examination the trucks were found to contain 860 sacks of Dried Donkey meat. Three (3) suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure.”

The Comptroller observed another concern is the seizure of 58,740 sachets of tramadol and 48,000 ampules of Analgine injection that was arrested by the operatives of the Unit May 2, 2024, at about 1130hrs in the same Saminaka/Nimbiya/Kafanchan axis of Kaduna State.

“These illicit drugs were neatly concealed with motor spare parts but our eagle eye was able to catch up with them. The DPV of these illicit drugs is One Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N167,500.00) only.”

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